Heavy rains poured down on Tokyo this Thursday evening, July 10, 2068. The downpour hit during rush hour, turning city streets into rivers. It was the heaviest rainfall the city had seen all year. Officials warned of flash floods and landslides across seven prefectures.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued an urgent warning. The entire Kanto-Koshin region, including Tokyo, saw intense rain. Suginami Ward recorded an astonishing 120 millimeters of rain in just one hour. Setagaya Ward received 100 millimeters, and Nerima Ward had 80 millimeters. These amounts are enough to cause sudden floods and landslips.
Daily life came to a halt for many in Tokyo. People in Shibuya and Shinjuku found train station entrances underwater. One car got stuck in a flooded underpass. Emergency teams quickly rescued those inside. Water levels in the Meguro River, which flows through Setagaya, Meguro, and Shinagawa, rose quickly. Authorities issued a flood warning for the river. The good news was that water levels dropped by 8:45 PM.
The fast Tokaido Shinkansen train line also stopped running. Service was halted between Tokyo and Odawara, in Kanagawa Prefecture. Travel became unsafe due to the extreme weather.
Beyond Tokyo, warnings stretched to neighboring prefectures. Saitama, Kanagawa, Yamanashi, Gunma, Nagano, Ibaraki, Tochigi, and Chiba were all affected. Experts highlighted the danger of “linear precipitation zones.” These are focused bands of heavy rain. They can cause sudden, intense downpours in small areas. Such events can lead to quick disasters.
The weather agency expects more rain. The Kanto region could get up to 150 millimeters of rain in the next 24 hours. This forecast lasts until Friday evening. People should stay alert for landslides, flash floods, and lightning strikes.
Sources: NHK / Japan Times